France September 2024: Sales down a concerning -11.1%
3,626 sales of the ë-C3 couldn’t help Citroen, down -29.9%
17/10 update: Now with Top 335 All models ranking.
5th straight month of year-on-year losses for the French new car market at a steep -11.1% year-on-year in September to 139,004, keeping in mind September 2023 benefited of a sales resurgence due to the newfound availability of semi conductors. This is however -20.3% below the 174,459 units registered in pre-pandemic September 2019. The year-to-date volume is now off -1.8% to 1,265,905. Private sales drop -9%, long term leases are off -14% and company sales sink -17%. Hybrids account for 45.5% of the market this month vs. 34.7% a year ago, with sales up 16.8% to 63,238. Among them full hybrids are up 25.2% to 28,765 and mild hybrids up 57.5% to 24,398 but PHEVs are off -35.8% to 10,075. BEVs slow down -6.2% to 28,301 and 20.4% share vs. 19.3% a year ago. Petrol sales crash -32% to 36,000 and 25.9% share vs. 33.9% a year ago and diesel is at -39.1% to 5.8% share vs. 8.5% in September 2023.
Record 8th place for the Peugeot 3008 III
In the brands ranking, Renault edges down -4.4% to 17.2% share, one percentage point above its YTD level of 16.1%. Peugeot for its part is off -1.8% to 13.9% share, in line with the 14% it holds so far this year. Volkswagen (+13%) shows fantastic growth and climbs two spots on August to #3 with 7.9% of the market. This is the brand’s second incursion onto the French podium in the past four months. Dacia (-31.5%) is in great difficulty and falls to #4 with 7.1% share. Toyota (+18.8%) is also down one rank on last month to #5 but shines year-on-year. Citroen (-29.9%) is in hell again at #6 with 6.4% share. BMW (+4.9%) defies the market slump at #8 while Skoda (+9.5%) repeats at #10 for what is its second ever Top 10 finish in France. Notice also Tesla (-2.2%) limiting its fall and surging back up four spots to #7 and 3.9% share vs. #15 and 2.3% year-to-date. Seat (+50.8%), Porsche (+37.9%), Mini (+26.3%), Lexus (+26.2%) and Volvo (+11.3%) also impress below just as BYD (+331%) continues to gear up at #31.
The Renault 5 is up to #29 in September thanks to demo sales.
The Renault Clio (-8.4%) is the best-selling vehicle at home and for the fourth time in the past 5 months. This is not enough however to snap the YTD pole position, still held by the Peugeot 208 (-26.1%). The Dacia Sandero (-27.5%) endures a rare harsh score but manages to stay in third place overall. The Tesla Model Y (-8.8%) falls slower than the market and climbs up four spots on August to #4 which is simply a ranking record, also hit in March 2023. The Renault Captur (-9.1%) outsells its archenemy the Peugeot 2008 (+13.9%) at #5 vs. #7. We have a new arrival inside the Top 10: the Citroen ë-C3 lands at #6 with 2.6% share. These however corresponds to vehicles sold as social leases at the start of the year and that had to be registered by September 30. The Peugeot 3008 III is up to a record 8th place while the VW Polo (+100.7%) posts another fantastic month at #9.
The Renault Symbioz is up to #32 this month.
Among other new launches, the Dacia Duster III is down six spots on August to #10 just as the VW Tiguan III advances seven to #17. The Mini Hatch IV is up to an estimated #23, the Renault Scenic V is up 8 ranks on last month to #24. But the biggest performances are just below: the Renault 5 surges 173 spots to #29 and the Renault Symbioz is up 27 to #32. The MG3 is down 10 ranks to #47, the Peugeot 5008 III is up 68 to #50 and the Renault Rafale up one to #69.
Previous month: France August 2024: Market off -24.3% to weakest in 10 years, Skoda, Dacia Duster break records
One year ago: France September 2023: Peugeot 208 keeps Renault Clio at bay in market slowing down its growth
Full September 2024 Top 58 All brands and Top 335 All models below.